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20:1 Then came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.
20:2 And there was no water for the congregation: and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.
20:3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LORD! 20:4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the LORD into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? 20:5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
20:6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
20:7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
20:9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock? 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
20:13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.
20:14 And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom, Thus saith thy brother Israel, Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us: 20:15 How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers: 20:16 And when we cried unto the LORD, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and, behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of thy border: 20:17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country: we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go by the king's high way, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.
20:18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword.
20:19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the high way: and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it: I will only, without doing anything else, go through on my feet.
20:20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through. And Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.
20:21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border: wherefore Israel turned away from him.
20:22 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.
20:23 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, 20:24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.
20:25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: 20:26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.
20:27 And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.
20:28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount.
20:29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.


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King James Bible:Numbers
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Numbers
Book: Numbers
Chapter: 20

Overview:
The people come to Zin, They murmur for water, Moses directed
to smite the Rock, The infirmity of Moses and Aaron. (1-13) The
Israelites are refused a Passage through Edom. (14-21) Aaron
reigns the Priest's office to Eleazar, and dies in Mount Hor.
(22-29)

1-13 After thirty-eight years' tedious abode in the Wilderness,
the armies of Israel advanced towards Canaan again. There was No
water for the Congregation. We live in a wanting world, and
wherever we are, must expect to meet with something to Put us
out. It is a great Mercy to have plenty of water, a Mercy which,
if we found the want of, we should more own the worth of.
Hereupon they murmured against Moses and Aaron. They spake the
same absurd and brutish language their fathers had done. It made
their crime the worse, that they had smarted So long for the
discontent and distrusts of their fathers, yet they venture in
the same steps. Moses must again, in God's name, command water
out of a Rock for them; God is as able as ever to supply his
people with what is needful for them. But Moses and Aaron acted
wrong. They took much of the Glory of this work of wonder to
themselves; "Must we fetch water?" As if it were done By some
power or worthiness of their own. They were to speak to the
Rock, but they smote it. Therefore it is charged upon them, that
they did not sanctify God, that is, they did not give to him
alone that Glory of this Miracle which was due unto his name.
And being provoked By the people, Moses spake unadvisedly with
his lips. The same pride of Man would still usurp the office of
the appointed Mediator; and become to ourselves Wisdom,
Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption. Such a state
of sinful independence, such a rebellion of the soul against its
Saviour, the voice of God condemns in every page of the Gospel.

14-21 The nearest way to Canaan from the place where Israel
encamped, was through the country of Edom. The ambassadors who
were sent returned with a denial. The Edomites feared to receive
damage By the Israelites. And had this numerous Army been under
any other discipline than that of the righteous God himself,
there might have been cause for this Jealousy. But Esau hated
Jacob because of the blessing; and now the Hatred revived, when
the blessing was about to be inherited. We must not think it
strange, if reasonable requests be denied By unreasonable men,
and if those whom God favours be affronted By men.

22-29 God bids Aaron prepare to die. There is something of
displeasure in these orders. Aaron must not enter Canaan,
because he had failed in his duty at the waters of strife. There
is much of Mercy in them. Aaron, though he dies for his
transgression, dies with ease, and in honour. He is gathered to
his people, as one who dies in the arms of Divine Grace. There
is much significancy in these orders. Aaron must not enter
Canaan, to show that the Levitical priesthood could make nothing
perfect; that must be done By bringing in a better Hope. Aaron
submits, and dies in the method and manner appointed; and, for
aught that appears, with as much cheerfulness as if he had been
going to Bed. It was a great satisfaction to Aaron to see his
son, who was dear to him, preferred; and his office preserved
and secured: especially, to see in this a figure of Christ's
Everlasting priesthood. A good Man would desire, if it were the
will of God, not to outlive his usefulness. Why should we covet
to continue any longer in this world, than while we may do some
service in it for God and our Generation?

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